Cover tensioning device for sofa beds



March 1952 R. c. THOMPSON ET AL 2,538,058

COVER TENSIONING DEVICE FOR SOFA BEDS Filed Aug. 24, 1949 1/1! enters Robert C. Thompson Kenneth M. Cayfon Patented Mar. 4, 1952 OFFICE COVER TENSIONING DEVICE FOR. SOFA BEDS Robert C. Thompson and Kenneth M. Cayton, Lake Charles, La.

Application August 24, 1949, Serial No. 112,136

2 Claims. (01. 155-182) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in sofa-beds, or similar types of convertible furniture, and more particularly to tensioning means for holding the cushion covers for the seat and back stretched in a smooth condition when the device is converted to either a bed or sofa.

An important object of the invention is to provide tensioning means for the meeting edges of the seat and back cushions as well as for the end edges of the cover for the seat cushion to keep the covers from wrinkling and thus improve the comfort of the sofa-bed.

A still further object is to provide tensioning means for the covers of cushions of this character and which is simple and practical in construction, efficient and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a seat and back cushion with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on a line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing the back raised for use as a sofa;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the back lowered for use as a bed, and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a line Il4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration we have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numerals 5 and 6 designate generally the seat and back portions respectively of a sofa-bed, the seat including a rigid bottom I to which a coil spring unit 8 is suitably attached for supporting a cushion 9 on top of the spring unit and which includes a suitable filler Ill enclosed in a fabric cover II.

The back 6 also includes a rigid base or bottom I 2 to which a coil spring unit I3 is suitably attached for supporting a cushion I4 which also includes a suitable filler I5 and a fabric cover I 6 enclosing the filler.

The back is mounted in a conventional manner for raising and lowering to convert the same either into a sofa as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, or into a bed as shown in Figure 3.

A fabric strip I1 is sewed or otherwise suitably secured at the meeting edges ofthe covers I I and I6 for the seat and back and a rod I8 of suitable rigid material is enclosed in a casing I9 sewed at the free edge of strip I I.

Coil springs 20 connect rod I8 at suitable intervals to the bottom or base I of seat 5 and coil springs 2| similarly connect the base or bottom I2 of back 6. The coil springs 20 and 2| are held under tension to pull strip I'I downwardly and thus stretch covers II and I6 of the seat 5 and back 6.

The ends of seat cushion 9 are also provided with fabric strips 22 secured at one edge to the cover I I and also provided with a rigid rod 23 at the lower edge of the strip 22 and connected to the bottom I of seat 5 by coil springs 24 to exert a downward pulling force of the ends of cover I.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed-unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a sofa-bed including seat and back members each comprising a cushion structure spring supported on a rigid base and provided with a cover, the back member being swingable into upright and horizontal positions, respectively, with one edge of its cover contiguous with one edge of the cover of said seat member, means for tensioning said covers comprising a flexible strip connected to both of said contiguous edges, and coil springs connected to said strip below said edges and to said bases and extending oppositely from said strip to said bases in either position of said back member.

2. In a sofa-bed including seat and back members each comprising a cushion structure spring supported on a rigid base and provided with a cover, the back member being swingable into upright and horizontal positions, respectively, with one edge of its cover contiguous with one edge of the cover of the seat member, means for tensioning said covers comprising a flexible strip having a longitudinal edge connected to both of 3 4 said contiguous edges, and a rigid reinforcing member fixed to and extending along the oppo- F ENCES CITED Site longitudinal edge of Said Strip, and coil The following references are of record in the springs connected to said rigid member and to fil of t t said bases and extending oppositely from said 5 rigid member to said bases in either position of UNITED STATES PATENTS said back member. Number Name Date 2,120,036 Northup June 7, 1938 ROBERT C. THOMPSON. 2,191,848 Cramer et a1. Feb. 27, 1940 KENNETH M. CAYTON, o 2.335.036 Young Nov. 23, 1943 

